"Recently our vast Solar Reflectors--which protect our cities from the sun--were found to be tampered with! If our engineers had not discovered certain discrepancies in time, thousands of my people would have died under merciless radiations. We are still investigating this foul piece of work. It was deliberate, not accidental." Sarik glared about the table. "I hardly need remind you--we can easily convert our Solar Reflectors into powerful weapons should the need arise!" * * * * * At this open threat, such a clamor of protests arose that DeHarries pounded for order. He gave the floor to Jal Tagar. "DeHarries ... I see the reason for alarm. Similar incidents have occurred on Mars. In return for our Uranium, Earth supplies us with engineers for the maintenance and development of our Canals. As long as a year ago, there began a series of breakdowns in our Canal system! Already the desert has reclaimed vast areas of our irrigated lands!" Carver, the Earthman from Perlac, rose to deliver the final bombshell. Using the Frequency Tuner, he had traversed the route from his adopted planet in a mere two weeks. The strange world beyond Pluto, to which many of Earth's scientists had migrated, was becoming a power and an asset to the Federation.[2] [Footnote 2: Passage to Planet X, Planet Stories, Winter, 1945.] Now Carver announced simply, "We have lost the Frequency Tuner. The detailed plans of this power unit, which we intended to share with the Federation, have been stolen." DeHarries broke the stunned silence. "And Venus had announced that the secret of allotropic metal should be shared by the Federation. Each planet knew this. Each would benefit. It doesn't seem likely that any planet individually could be behind these thefts and outrages." "There's a frightening purpose behind it all," Rehlek of Callisto said worriedly. "Someone or _something_ is seeking to cause disunity. Creating suspicion.... It may easily lead to war!" Jal Tagar said, "You have a theory, DeHarries?" "A theory and a plan. It's my conviction that in our various governments, in places of highest trust, _are men who are not what they seem_!" He glanced about, saw that the others did not fully grasp the idea. "I mean that literally!" DeHarries went on. "_Men whose minds have somehow been seized; who are now under the control of--of an alien intelligence! Something not of our Federation!_" Sarik waved a disdainful hand. "Men whose minds have been seized? That is fantastic!" "Is it? How much do you know of the members of your own Inner Council, Sarik? Just one alien intellect planted there could cause inestimable damage! What do you _really_ know of Jal Tagar, here, beyond what you see? Or of Aladdian? Or of me? I may be an alien--though I deny it. Any one or any several of us may be _other than what we seem_!" Aladdian shuddered, glancing around. "It's an eerie thought--and one to ponder upon! But you said you have a plan, DeHarries?"